Friday, June 28, 2013

So I realized I haven't even done a blog about becoming a mom. How do I even put it into words? I'm not sure. We waited 6 long years for this miracle and he is the biggest blessing we have ever received. Lincoln Anthony was born on March 20, 2013 at 8:59am after an emergency c-section, weighing 8lb13oz and 20.5" long. I guess I could start with my labor and delivery.A c-section was my biggest fear when it came to labor. I dreamed of that moment of birthing my son and having him placed on my chest. Around 8:00pm on March 19 I started to have contractions. Louie frantically got the house ready, cleaning and doing last minute preparations. At the time I wasn't even sure I was REALLY in labor. Contractions started at about 30 seconds long and were every 4-5 minutes. Since the actual contraction was so short I thought they were just braxton hicks. They were hardly painful either. After a few hours of it continuing, I decided to take a shower and relax and see if that helped. So I took a shower, and laid on the couch while watching Bones on netflix. Contractions were getting closer and longer. I figured I would call the hospital to see if I should come in, they said to come in just to see so we got in the car and went. We probably got there around 2am. I was checked to see how dilated I was (which was more painful than ANY contraction I had let me tell you) and was about 5 cm. I couldn't believe it. I was having a BABY. After that my contractions started hyper stimming. So basically I was having one long contraction with no breaks. They gave me a shot to try to slow the contractions down which didn't help. Eventually I was moved into a room, and my parents showed up. I got the epidural and felt SO much better. But the combination (I think) of the drugs put Lincoln into distress. His heart rate started to drop, more than they would like to see. My Dr got to the hospital and checked me and I was about 7-8cm and she broke my water to try to help because we were really trying to avoid a c-section. Also should add, the combination of all these drugs REALLY put me into another world. I was SO out of it. Time meant nothing to me. 3 hours felt like 10 minutes to me. She broke my water and it didn't help and Lincoln's heart rate kept dropping. They tried to put fluid back inside, but that also didn't help. Finally, his heart rate got so bad, out of nowhere every nurse on the floor was in my room, prepping me for a c-section. I knew thats what needed to be done but I was terrified. I just remember looking and Louie with tears streaming down my face. I was wheeled off into the room, and I was SO out of it. As they were prepping me I remember almost falling asleep. I started to get really nauseous so they gave me the ridiculous lima bean to throw up in, but thankfully I never needed it. Louie finally got into the room, and it was time for them to start the c-section. I remember telling Louie "talk to me, just talk to me" and he was so scared he said "I...I dont know what to talk about". I started asking him about work, and lord knows what else, and they told me I was going to feel some pressure. They weren't kidding! It felt as if they set a car on top of my chest. It felt as if my ribs would break at any moment. Then Lincoln was born. I heard him cry and just looked at Louie and said "oh my god, we have a baby, thats our baby"

I remember my Dr telling me that Lincoln did NOT want to come out, she said he was trying to squirm away from her. His cord was also wrapped around his neck AND he was holding it like suspenders. My kid, I swear. lol.

I was wheeled back into the room, but all that is fuzzy. I wasn't breathing well. I was hardly breathing at ALL. They kept shaking me telling me to breathe. I just felt like I was going to fall asleep but I wanted to see him so badly. I knew he was in the room, I could hear him but I couldn't see him. I believe at this point the nurse was giving him a bath. She finally brought him to me and he started to nurse right away. I remember thinking "oh this doesn't hurt like I thought it would". This was all really fuzzy and I can't remember how long I was in there until I went to the post partum room. They gave me this little contraption that I had to breathe in and out of to get my lungs working better.

Luckily we had a private room. But getting rest in a hospital is impossible. The walls are thin, nurses come in constantly, or they would forget to shut the door and the halls were loud. My nurse made me get up out of the bed that night I believe. SO painful! I thought my stomach would just rip right open. They told me moving and walking would make me feel better and heal faster. They were right, but it was still horrible. I was SO ready to get home though so I walked as much as I could. I told them thursday night I was ready to leave the next morning. They seemed surprised I wanted to leave so early, but I hated it there and I needed to get home. Friday morning came and we were so excited. The pediatrician came in and listened to his heart, and told me that she heard a heart murmur. My heart sank. I had heard of heart murmurs before, but was not knowledgeable about them at all. She told me they would need to do an echo cardiogram and they wheeled him away from me. I broke down. I was so worried for him. I got dressed and met him in there while it was being preformed. Apparently during it though his heart rate kept dropping when he would fall asleep, so we had to sit there with him a little longer as they monitored that. They told me that we would get the results that following Monday at his first dr appointment.

I couldn't imagine waiting that long and I hoped I could try to put it out of my mind until then.

We went back into our room after that, and finished packing and put Lincoln in his first outfit ever (which he wasn't very happy about lol), and we were on our way home! Finally!

Monday, June 3, 2013

Now that I'm a mom (totally need to do a blog post on that trust me I know), nursing is something I'm very passionate about. It's something I was always determined to do when I was pregnant, and even before. Everyone says how difficult it can be, and boy they weren't kidding! When Lincoln was about a week old I almost gave up. But I saw a lactation consultant and stuck it out. I have a manual pump, and I try to pump a couple times a week in between feedings so I can have some on hand for emergencies or if Grandma and Grandpa want to babysit. However, pumping for me is almost pointless. Lincoln nurses quite often during the day so when I try to pump during a nap in between feedings I'm lucky if I get .5-1oz from BOTH breasts. I tried taking some supplements (ie fenugreek) and didn't see a difference. So last night I decided to try lactation cookies! I have yet to see if they actually work, but here is the recipe anyway!

Lactation Cookies:

Ingredients:

1 cup butter or
margarine

1 & 1/2 cups
brown sugar

5-6 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons
flaxseed meal

2 teaspoons chia seeds

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking
soda

1 teaspoon salt

3 cups oats, thick
cut if you can get them

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup macadamia nuts (or any nuts you like)

2-4 tablespoons of
brewers yeast (be generous THIS is what should boost your supply)